The car is the business card of the owner. Therefore, the vehicle must be kept clean. In this article, we will tell you how to properly wash your car and in what ways you can do it.
When should you wash your car?
There is only one correct answer to this question. The car should be washed as it gets dirty. It is not worth waiting until the glass is covered with stains, and pieces of dirt fly off the body. The less dirty the car is, the easier it is to bring it to a decent appearance.
The main thing is to find golden mean. Frequent water procedures harmful to iron horse no less than its content in dirt and dust. First of all, this applies to cases where washing is carried out incorrectly. Because of this, scratches may appear on the glass and the body. Damage to the paintwork is a direct path to corrosion. Wash your car regularly, but don't overdo it and do it right.
Is it possible to wash the car in the cold and how to do it?
Severe frosts often come after a thaw, which is characterized by the presence of dirt on roads and in yards. The body of the car during this period is also covered with a layer of reagents, which is sprinkled pavement. Most often, salt is used for this. And it is known to be harmful to the paintwork. How to deal with the needy car wash in this case? After all, frosts can last for several days or even weeks.
There are several different opinions on this matter. Employees of car washes claim that to carry out water purification procedures in very coldy can only be in a warm box.
Experienced car owners believe that it is better to refuse washing the car in severe frosts. Salt adhering to the body during the thaw sub-zero temperature not harmful. This is known from the chemistry course of the school curriculum. At a temperature of -8, the reactions of salt and metal are significantly slowed down. Even if the body of your car is covered with a layer of reagent, you can safely wait for warming to drive the vehicle to the sink.
What harm can washing in cold weather do to a car? First of all, this concerns plastic parts. The bumper and headlights may burst if they are not dried properly. Water-coated plastic is covered in frost with a crust of ice, and then cracks even with a slight mechanical impact.
If you still need to wash the car, and it's cold outside, you should not carry out this process yourself. Take the vehicle to the car wash. Remember a few simple rules that will help to carry out this process correctly:
- Ask the washer to leave the car in the box until it is completely dry. Moisture on metal and glass is a direct path to cracks and damage to the paintwork.
- doorways and hinges, and rubber seals before washing, it must be treated with an anti-freeze.
- The process of wet cleaning the car should begin no earlier than ten minutes after you drive it from the frost into the box.
Problems with the first paragraph should not arise. After all, there are not too many people who want to drive a car to a car wash in cold weather. But be prepared to pay extra for extra time.
My own
Manual washing implies the absence of auxiliary technical means. This is the cheapest way to remove dirt and stains from windows and bodywork, but also the most time-consuming.
What products do you use to wash your car?
Do not use products for manual washing of the car. household chemicals. First of all, this concerns powders with abrasive particles. After such cleaning, scratches may remain on the body and glass. Liquid household compounds are no less harmful to cars. They may contain components that destroy paintwork.
Only products intended for this purpose may be used for car washing. Car shampoos vary depending on the destination. They can be designed for contactless or manual washing. If you are going to do wet cleaning with a bucket and a sponge, choose the appropriate auto chemicals.
To clean the interior, you should purchase special tools. There are universal compositions with which you can gloss inside and out. vehicle.
Washing a car with the help of an autocomponent is not at all difficult. To do this, you need to arm yourself with a bucket and a sponge, as well as dry rags or special napkins that absorb moisture well.
The process should begin with washing with plain water. After the main dirt and stains are eliminated, the body and glass must be treated with car shampoo. It is pre-whipped into foam and applied to the coating with a sponge. The composition is washed off the car with clean water.
How to dry a car after washing?
In winter, dry the car after washing only in a warm box. It's impossible to do it on the street. After you have thoroughly washed the car by hand, be sure to wipe the body several times with dry rags. This should be done even if it is warm and sunny outside. Bodywork and glass not rubbed carefully will be streaked if simply dried in the sun.
Polishing compounds add shine to the car body. You can use them for headlights and glasses. They should only be applied after the surface of the vehicle has dried. There are car shampoos that already contain polishing components. These are universal tools. After using them, the car should be wiped dry and it will shine like new.
Washing the car at the car wash
A car wash is considered the most convenient way to remove dirt from the car body and windows. It can be contact and non-contact, but in any case, the result should meet your expectations. Finding the right car wash is easy. Here are a few nuances that you should pay attention to so as not to be disappointed in the quality of the service provided to you:
- Boxes should be equipped with good lighting. It is important that car wash workers can clearly see which parts of the car to pay more attention to.
- Don't go for cheapness. Remember, a good car cleaning service cannot be cheap. After all, high-quality car washes use the best cosmetics, reliable equipment. Such cleaning services use a two-phase wash, which is carried out according to European standards. It is very easy to compare costs and quality. A visit to the car wash is a maximum of four times a month. In case the procedure is performed qualitatively, and the weather is dry outside, even less. Therefore, it is better to pay more, but get an excellent result. In addition, experienced employees rarely work at inexpensive car washes. There is also no high-quality autochemistry there. This is a direct threat to the integrity of the paintwork of the machine.
- Pay attention to the observance of the technique of performing work. Knowing the basics of washing will help you control the quality of its implementation. So, for example, non-contact should be applied to the body from the bottom up, and only large-mesh sponges can be used for manual manipulations, while circular motions not allowed, they must be straight. Wheels with contactless washing are washed by hand, since a rare worker will be able to clean them without mechanical impact.
If you are used to comfort, pay attention to the presence of a cafe, a Wi-Fi zone or a place to wait while your car is put in order. This service is not provided at all car washes.
How to wash a car at a self-service car wash
A self-service car wash is a way to get your car in order and spend less money doing it. The cost of work directly depends on the number of modes. The procedure is performed in an equipped box without the participation of car wash workers. All manipulations with the car are performed by the owner.
Most of these washes use non-contact equipment. But if the car owner wishes, manual techniques can be used.
Self-service car washes can hold up to six cars at once. The rooms where they are equipped are divided into separate boxes or separated by partitions. The functions that these types of sinks are equipped with vary depending on the availability of equipment. It is possible to single out common modes that are considered standard. We are talking about pre-wash, main wash, rinse and waxing. The final step is drying and polishing. Interior cleaning is not provided for all self-service car washes. But where it is, a special vacuum cleaner is provided.
In order not to be disappointed after visiting a contactless car wash, be sure to read the instructions. It is available at every self-service point. Let's consider its points in detail:
- Pre-washing is carried out no more than a minute in time. Do not forget that its task is not to wash off the dirt, but to soften it. Cars should be watered evenly from top to bottom.
- The main wash is carried out within a few minutes. The gun should be held straight so that the impact of the jet is uniform. You need to start from the front and back of the car, then wash the sides. The rest of the machine should be cleaned of dirt and stains last.
- Rinsing the machine in time will take no more than a minute. This is not the final wash. It is necessary in order to eliminate the remnants of foam and chemistry.
- Even waxing also takes no more than one to two minutes. You can exclude this mode from the check, and the payment will be reduced. But in this case, you will not be able to protect your car from dust and dirt. Apply the wax evenly over the body, starting from the bottom up.
- Drying involves covering the machine with demineralised water. Thanks to this liquid, the car dries faster. After complete drying, the car shines like new. By the way, this layer is applied from the bottom up to eliminate streaks.
We wash the car with the help of technology
You can wash your car on your own, not only by hand. For this, there are mini-washers. Devices of this kind will not fully replace a visit to a car wash, but with their help you will be able to achieve much more than using a sponge and a bucket of car shampoo.
In addition to a mini-wash with special nozzles, you will need auto chemical goods, napkins made of highly absorbent material and 10-15 minutes of free time. Much more can be achieved with this equipment. best effect. Manual washing removes only stains and dirt, and a large pressure of water with auto chemicals will remove resins that have eaten into the metal.
Installations for self-cleaning a car from dirt, streaks and the consequences of getting reagents on the body are called Karcher. This name arose thanks to the first manufacturer of minisinks. German company Karher has been supplying quality washing equipment. Behind last years She has a lot of competitors. Mobile sinks vary in size, features and attachments, and power.
How to properly wash your car with special equipment:
- The preliminary stage should be carried out only with water. A jet under good pressure is applied to the body in various directions. Pay attention to all areas of the machine. The final result directly depends on this stage.
- The next step is to supply a weak solution of detergent under low pressure. At this stage, a layer of dirt and stains is washed off the body and glasses.
- Next, you need to wash off the resulting foam clean water. This can be done under great pressure.
- The main detergent must be applied to the body after the water has drained well from the machine. Detergent must be applied from the bottom up. It must be left on the surface of the car for five minutes in order for the effect to live up to expectations. In order not to waste this time, you can clean the suspension elements, sills and discs from dirt.
- The final step in washing the car with Karcher is rinsing. The agent, which has acted on the surface of the body for five minutes, must be washed off with clean water under high pressure.
After all procedures are completed, the machine must be thoroughly wiped with napkins. This will prevent the appearance of streaks on the body and glass.
When washing your car, be sure to follow the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations for choosing auto chemicals. In most cases, this is not a promotion, but helpful tips, which are given based on the composition of a particular car shampoo.
Be sure to pay attention to the fact that in any car wash there are components that can negatively affect the paintwork. It is recommended to use them no more than two or three times a month.
In order to avoid corrosion, it is important to start the washing process only after the body has cooled down. Getting on hot metal, water can cause irreversible processes. As a result, the body will have to be repainted.
Deciding how to properly wash your car is, of course, up to you. Give preference effective methods and your car will look like it just left the salon.
You were promised complete cleanliness for 100 rubles, handed a water cannon high pressure, and in the end you got solid spots and stains? The thing is that you also need to be able to use such a sink, and we will try to teach this.
The season “tanks are not afraid of dirt” has opened almost everywhere, which means that everyone will go to the car wash and, most likely, at the same time. For those who like to do everything quickly, inexpensively, but in a human way, self-service car washes work. Yes, yes, this is where you pay yourself and wash yourself. So what is the secret to success here?
"Read the instructions", or everything in order
This is the first thing we were told in response to the question of how it is right and, most importantly, really good to wash the car yourself. And it's true, because almost all owners hang instructions for using the equipment in the most visible place. But, apparently, such instruction is not enough. So let's go through all the steps in order and in more detail.
All self-service car washes offer customers at least five options: pre-wash, main wash, rinse, wax, polish and dry.
Sometimes there is an option to wash discs, which is considered to be enough to spend 15 seconds. But if you decide to use it, remember that during washing you should not touch the paintwork.
So, you gave money to the machine, took the gun out of the casing and select the program:
Prewash. It is designed to soften and lift the dirt without damaging the coating of the car. You need to douse the entire car from top to bottom. In this case, the gun should be kept at a distance of 25-30 cm.
As we were told at the Splash car wash, there is no need to try to wash off all the dirt at this stage, because the chemistry contained in the solution "works with the dirt, but does not wash it away." It should take you 45 seconds to complete this step.
Main sink. The name speaks for itself. Changing the distance and angle of the gun, you need to thoroughly rinse hot water and foam all contaminated places. Here, water is supplied under tangible pressure. This procedure should take 120 seconds.
“To obtain the best effect, the solution should be applied and the flush should be carried out with horizontal movements, moving gradually from the bottom up along the sides of the car, first washing the sidewalls, then the front and rear, and finally the roof, trunk and hood,” Splash wash experts advise.
Wax. A thin layer of wax will protect the car from dirt, dust and chemicals that corrode on their way not only snow and which are so generously sprinkled on roads. Waxing will also take 60 seconds.
Shine and drying. This stage, as it turned out, is no less important for the result than the main wash. By selecting the option, the driver will be able to rinse the car with special demineralized water flavored with a substance that allows the car to dry faster. At the same time, you do not need to wipe the car after the procedure. In addition to protection, the coating should also acquire its own shine. Experts take 120 seconds to dry and shine.
Very important p last program- rinsing, but not with ordinary water, but through the so-called osmosis. This is demineralized water of very fine filtration. If the client stops at the usual rinse, then this is just ordinary water from the tap, which will leave smudges and streaks. It is the last program that allows the car to leave clean, since drying is added there. But this is not a big hair dryer, as you might think, but a substance that helps water quickly roll down the paintwork.
Tatyana Rakus, CEO BKF Servis (manufacturer of self-service car washes)
The main problem is that the client does not go through all the washing programs, choosing only washing with active foam (powder) and water, without using wax and osmosis (purified demineralized water), so the car gets dirty faster and dries longer.
Roman Matsirin, Executive Director of the company " Modern technologies» (engaged in the installation of self-service car washes)
Wash in 10 minutes and be satisfied?
As conceived by the developers, a car wash visitor should spend no more than 7-10 minutes on all options.
On average, seven minutes is enough to use all the programs. The only thing you should pay attention to, if you have traveled all winter and never washed the car, then you need to go to a regular hand wash so that the car is degreased. But here's someone else how to relate to this matter. Those who treat the car a little more carefully go to a hand wash once every six weeks to degrease it. And in between, they just maintain a clean state.
Tatiana Rakus
However, not all users of sinks agree that it is really possible to cope with the task even in 10 minutes and still be satisfied. This is evidenced by the comments of users in the group of one of the sinks in the VKontakte social network.
Nonsense these car washes, the car remained dirty, even after the second time. The pressure is weak, instead of foam- soapy water ... It is only good to rinse off the dust in the summer or wash off the snow in the winter. The next day I went to wash again. The second mode was already working fine, washed the whole car, kept the gun at a distance of 5-10 cm from the car. She still remained in a white salt coating. Chemistry weak?
Alexander
And here is what the experts answered this question.
The owners of car washes regulate the concentrate and supply of chemicals themselves. You won't know this in advance. It is necessary during the main wash to pay attention when you take the gun, whether there is pressure. That is, if you hold it with some tension, then everything is in order. And if there is no pressure, it's bad. In theory, the owner of the sink should contact the service in order to restore the pressure. Some owners additionally install an option on their sinks that allows you to control the level of chemistry and pressure in the pumps. It's like in a restaurant - somewhere clean and tasty, but somewhere so-so,depends on the owner.
Many of the car enthusiasts tried to wash their car at a self-service car wash at a high-quality and cheap price, but few people get a really high-quality result.
This article will really be useful to many car owners, especially since the season of mud and slush has begun. At the same time, despite the fact that there are many car wash stations in any city, many car owners want to save money and time on self-service car washes. It is worth noting that self-service car washes are a middle option between self-washing a car in your own yard and a classic car wash station.
However, it is worth noting that few people are able to really effectively use the possibilities of self-service car washes, and as a result, the result is worse or the wash amount is comparable or more expensive than in a classic car wash.
Where to start at a self-service car wash
First of all, you should start by studying the instructions for using the self-service car wash equipment, as well as the rules for using the equipment. Most often, the owners, without looking at the instructions, pay money to the machine and, on a whim, start turning on various washing programs. However, it is worth exploring in more detail the opportunities provided by the washing programs.Most car washes provide five basic wash programs:
Pre-wash or preparatory stage;
The main stage of washing;
Rinsing the car from foam;
As well as drying the car.
Also, sometimes at these car washes there is a separate option for washing rims with aggressive chemicals, which can adversely affect the paintwork.
How to properly wash your car at a self-service car wash
Stage one:
The first stage is a pre-wash, which is designed to soften adhering dirt and gently separate this dirt from the paintwork. At the same time, in the given time, it is required to process the entire body of the car, but it should be borne in mind that the gun must be kept at a distance of about 30 cm from the surface of the car.
It is worth taking into account that at this stage you should not try to wash off any dirt from the car body. This stage is designed specifically to soften the dirt and prepare the car for the next stage, in which all the dirt will be washed off.
Second phase:
The main wash takes place precisely at the second stage, at which the prepared car undergoes the main treatment with hot water with foam under high pressure. At this stage, the main part of the pollution is washed off and the most resistant areas are softened.As the employees of such car washes advise, it is best to start from the side of the car, while washing should be from the bottom up. After thoroughly washing the sides of the machine, proceed to front bumper, grille and rear. Next, it is best to continue from the roof and complete the wash with the hood and trunk lid.
Third stage:
Rinsing - not less than milestone self-washing car, on which the remaining cleaning foam is washed off with cold water. At this stage, you should gradually move from the most top points transport to the lowest, and if you have time left, you can rinse wheel disks(nothing will be redundant). Fourth stage:
This stage can be skipped by the most economical car wash visitors, but experts strongly advise using it. Application wax composition help for some time to keep the paintwork of the car from dirt, dust and chemicals that are often used on roads in winter period.Fifth stage:
The last step in washing a car body is “drying” after washing with specially prepared water, which is practically distilled. The fact is that water devoid of any mineral compounds does not leave streaks behind, which greatly adds to the attractiveness of the car and removes the need to wipe the entire body with a special cloth.Unsatisfactory car wash result
On the Internet, you can find many negative reviews about quality end result. However, it is worth noting that at car washes with conscientious owners, with a high-quality passage of each stage, the car will get a really clean look.Also, the owners of sinks note that some visitors prefer to pause before the next stage, giving the chemistry time to “do its job”. However, it is worth taking into account the fact that all chemicals used in car washes of this type designed for speed and react with dirt instantly.
At the same time, each user of these car washes should take into account the fact that there are no regulatory bodies for owners. Therefore, it is worth choosing for yourself one car wash that inspires the greatest confidence and is most convenient for you personally, and only when using the services of really respectable car washes it will be possible to speak about the quality of the final result.
Conclusion
Of the above, the only fact that self-service car wash should be highlighted is designed to quickly and economically clean the car, and they are most popular precisely in the “dirty” seasons.Therefore, you should not bother too much on any drip that appears after washing the car, because after leaving the road, the car will instantly acquire a small coating of dirt. In this case, it is necessary to focus on the speed of washing and its cost.
For those who were looking for information about the possibility of opening such a car wash, or purchasing additional equipment- it is worth paying attention and studying the range of offers on the site selling all necessary components for self-service car wash Aquarama
After at least one self-service car wash appears in the city, a lot of surrounding car owners immediately begin to be interested in the question of how to wash a car at a self-service car wash. Although in general the technology of washing a car is no different from washing an ordinary car, the procedure raises questions from many motorists. In this article, we will tell you how to use a self-service car wash, what are the “basic” and “additional” points of the program, and answer the main questions of our readers.
So, how to use a self-service car wash?
As a rule, the technology is clearly shown on the reception panels. Money on the sinks themselves and information boards next to them. Let's take a look at the typical procedure in more detail and understand how to wash your car at a self-service car wash:
pre-wash
At this stage, the so-called active shampoo is applied to the machine, which with might and main corrodes the persistent pollution and softens their layer before washing. Some sinks use softened demineralized water.
A little advice: apply auto chemicals from the bottom up, and not vice versa - this way it will linger on the car longer and sink deeper into the dirt instead of immediately draining to the floor;Car wash
After an active shampoo has been applied to the body, the machine is washed with powder (in winter) or liquid chemicals (in summer), supplied directly with prepared and purified hot water under pressure - usually from 100 to 150 bar, depending on the manufacturer and equipment settings;
Car rinse
When the previous steps are completed, the remnants of chemistry and contaminants must be removed from the car - with plain water under pressure, and here, as with, you also need to act from the bottom up, for the same reasons as in the first paragraph of our program;
Waxing
In order for your car to retain its original appearance longer, at this stage a small layer of polymer wax is applied to the paint surface, designed to protect the paintwork from external influences and prevent contamination.
Finishing touches
On final stage surface is processed special tool, which gives the paint shine and dries the car - thanks to this, it does not have to be wiped and the coating does not leave stains and stains, as when wiping with a regular rag.
... In addition to these, the most important points, in the arsenal of self-service car washes there are many more modes (the specific set depends on the model and manufacturer). Here are just a few of them:
- Washing disks with special auto chemicals for cleaning rims and brake pads;
- Turbo Foam - A richer, thicker foam to tackle tough dirt and stains.
- Washing with a special brush with natural bristles;
- Vacuum cleaner - powerful professional device with a long flexible hose that allows you to get into the farthest dusty corners of your car;
- Air under pressure allows you to blow through the desired areas, where it is difficult to get close in another way;
Self-service car wash in winter
After we figured out how to wash a car at a self-service car wash, it's time to figure out one more question. Readers often wonder if self-service car washes can be used during the winter, when temperatures drop to well below zero. The short answer is yes. Modern sinks are equipped with automatic devices control and management, and often - heated floors that allow you to wash your car at -10 and -20 Celsius.
Self-service car wash price
How to use a self-service car wash and when it can be done, we generally figured it out, and now, as they say, "let's make money." On average in the country for this year (2017), a minute of washing a car at a self-service car wash costs from 5 to 10 rubles, which means that if you spend 10-15 minutes on one car wash, washing the car once will cost about 100-150 rubles.
How profitable is this compared to a household mini-sink? At average price such a device of 6,000 - 10,000 rubles, we get that a mini-wash (excluding water, electricity, etc.) will pay off in about 65 washes - and this, for a minute, is 20 weeks or 5 months three times a week. Considering the advantages that your own device provides, you might wonder if you should wash your car at home? Everyone finds the answer to this question himself, it remains for us to give you food for thought and wish you good luck))
P.S. Do you have any questions? I misinterpreted something, messed up, forgot? Feel free to write me in the comments - that's what they are for!
Every car owner has to deal with car washing. personal transport. road dirt, fuels and lubricants, dust and other contaminants not only spoil appearance machine, but may also adversely affect its functionality. Their full removal in "home" conditions is extremely difficult, as it requires special equipment, so car owners prefer to use the services of car washes. On this moment there are many such enterprises, in some of them the service is carried out by specially trained personnel, in others - by the car owners themselves. And if everything is more or less clear with the first ones, then what is the best way to wash a car at a self-service car wash? For those who want to use her services, the following information will be quite useful.
How to wash a car at a self-service car wash - instructions
Before washing a car at a self-service car wash, you should clarify the washing modes (options) that the client can use:
Prewash. Its purpose is to moisten and soften the dirt that covers the car with detergents. The procedure takes 40-50 seconds, it is recommended to water the body with a gun under slight pressure from above so that the cleaning solution evenly covers its surface. The dirt should not be washed off immediately, the detergent should soak it properly and prepare it for the next step.
Main sink. This option consists in removing softened dirt from the entire body, including hard-to-reach places. To do this, from a pistol under strong pressure for 2 minutes, hot water with cleaning agent. It is better to direct the jet from top to bottom, changing the vector at the most difficult points of the body. It is recommended to wash the sides first, then the nasal and back cars, and then the remaining sections.
Rinsing. This procedure is necessary to remove the remaining foam with contamination. About a minute of rinsing the car with distillate supplied under high pressure is enough, since this stage is not final.
Wax. A layer of wax containing polymers is applied to the cleaned car body and forms on the surface protective covering. The procedure is performed within 1 minute.
Shine and drying. At this final stage, the body is sprayed with demineralized water containing special additives for 2 minutes. This treatment contributes to the rapid drying of the body without wiping with a rag, and also creates additional protection.
Rules for using a self-service car wash
Not all drivers know how to use contactless car wash self-service with maximum efficiency. As a result, many of them are disappointed in this procedure, while it is not inferior to the traditional one when applied correctly. So that the result does not upset you, observe following rules self-service car wash:
- when placing the car in the box, make sure that there is enough space around it for free movement;
- perform all the above operations in sequence, without missing a single one - only in this case the car will remain clean for a long time;
- washing time is limited, so it must be used as efficiently as possible - for example, rugs can be laid out around the perimeter of the wall and washed at the same time as the car;
- if the car is very dirty, it is recommended to use the brush available at the sink, but be careful - it can damage the paintwork;
- do not apply wax to the body without making sure that it is clean after rinsing, as the binder will firmly fix dirt or stains on the surface.
The whole process takes an average of 10 minutes. The effectiveness of the wash depends not only on whether you have used all the options, but also on the specific enterprise. Unfortunately, not all of them meet the standards for pressure, quality of detergents, etc. If technical side if any enterprise is bad, then clearly followed instructions on how to wash a car at a self-service car wash are unlikely to help. Here it is already necessary to search for reviews on the Web and among acquaintances for sinks that have earned the trust of customers.
